Surprising beach clinches the top spot on list of Australia’s best

A famous stretch named after the sound it makes when your toes hit the sand has edged out shorelines across the nation to claim the title of Australia’s best beach.

Squeaky Beach, surrounded by the rugged wilderness of Wilsons Promontory National Park, has been recognised by Tourism Australia as the nation’s best for 2024.

Located just three hours drive from Melbourne, ‘Squeaky’ is known for the “acoustic delight” of compressed quartz and silica sand underfoot, crashing waves and clear waters, and for being enclosed by impressive granite boulders.

It is the first time a Victorian beach has been crowned as Australia’s best beach.

The Farm in New South Wales and Australia’s southernmost beach, Cockle Creek in Tasmania, rounded out the top three.

The top ten includes beaches from all states and the Northern Territory, as well as Pulu Blan Madar Island on the Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Lagoon Beach on Lord Howe Island.

Conservationist and Tourism Australia’s beach expert Brad Farmer AM joked he had a tough and “sometimes controversial” job of compiling the top 10.

“The list of ‘best beaches’ attracts headlines both here in Australia and in key international tourism markets around the world,” he said.

“That’s why I take the chance to uncover some of those destinations that might not be well-known but are home to some of Australia’s, and in my opinion, the world’s, best beaches.”

The title has previously gone to Stokes Bay in SA’s Kangaroo Island, Misery Bay in WA and Cabarita Beach in NSW took the top spot back in 2021.

While Queensland may not have topped the list, it was the only state to have two beaches make it into the top ten – Cylinder Beach and Cow Bay.

Australia is home to more close to 12,000 beaches and the most varied and diverse coastline in the world.

The best beach list is released each year and is designed to open up the minds of travellers – both domestically and abroad — and head off the beaten track to a coastline they may have not considered otherwise.

Managing director Philippa Harrison said Tourism Australia’s research consistently showed the hold the country’s coastline had on travellers.

“Beaches are one of the greatest drivers of international visitor demand to Australia and the majority of travellers enjoy our aquatic and coastal environments in some way when they are here,” she said.

As tourism continues to rebound from the pandemic, Tourism Minister Don Farrell said the list would help put Australia “front and centre on the world stage”.

“Australia’s beaches are the best in the world, and the list of ‘Best Australian Beaches’ showcases some of our hidden treasures to travellers here and abroad,” he said.

TOP 10 BEST BEACHES IN AUSTRALIA

1. Squeaky Beach, Wilsons Promontory, Victoria
2. The Farm (also known as Killalea Beach), Shellharbour, New South Wales
3. Cockle Creek, Tasmania
4. Madfish Bay, William Bay National Park, Western Australia
5. Pulu Belan Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands
6. Cylinder Beach, North Stradbroke Island, Queensland
7. Lagoon Beach, Lord Howe Island
8. Long Beach, Limestone Coast, South Australia
9. Cow Bay, Daintree River/Cape Tribulation, Queensland
10. Casuarina Beach, Darwin, Northern Territory